Author: Michael Hetrick

5 Hopeful Stories in 2020 from the East Texas Food Bank

As this year comes to a close, we took a look back at the stories of hope that inspired us during these tough months of 2020. While COVID-19 has had devastating impacts on our communities, we are grateful for the staff, volunteers, donors, partner agencies and supporters who have come together to feed hope for our neighbors in need. Here’s a look at 5 hopeful stories from 2020.

Longview ISD middle school students write original cookbook, proceeds benefit East Texas Food Bank

It’s the season of giving and a group of students at Longview ISD’s Judson Middle School are getting into the spirit. They wrote a cookbook and decided to sell them to the community and use the funds they raised to help feed local families in need.

Texas National Guard arrives at the East Texas Food Bank

In April, we were thankful to have the Texas Army National Guard arrive and were the official “boots on the ground” at the East Texas Food Bank. The guardsmen ensured that we continued to safely meet the need for food assistance in our 26-county coverage area. They supported our production of emergency food boxes and distribution and transportation tasks as long during our pandemic response.

Being a light in a time of need

Coby volunteered with us to help distribute food during several of our produce distributions in Tyler. The effects of the pandemic left him out of work for a period of time, so he felt the need to give back. “From talking to people in our community here, I have realized what dark times this is for so many. I hope people see there is a light and that you can help someone in need,” Coby told us. You can read more of Coby’s story here.

Coby

 

“We feel like someone cares here.”

We met Binu at the weekly distribution in Tyler this year.  He, his wife and two children were new not only East Texas, but to the United States, arriving during an unprecedented pandemic affecting the country after a 14 year process. “Giving food to somebody is the biggest charity you can do a person,” Binu said. “We all need food and water to survive so those who are providing this kind of thing is big. Nothing is better in the world.”You can read more of Binu’s story here.

Binu

Providing #OneLessWorry in partnership with St. Paul Children’s Foundation

Due to pandemic, many of our partner agencies had to quickly switch how they were distributing food to families in need in order to prevent exposure to the virus. For St. Paul Children’s Foundation in Tyler, this meant moving from a “client choice” pantry to drive-thru service. Operations Supervisor Wyatt Bynum chatted with us about how the pantry is still helping in the community.

East Texas Food Bank to receive philanthropic investment from MacKenzie Scott

This week, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott published a list of charitable investments that she is making in non-profits across the United States, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. According to the article Scott published on Medium, 384 organizations were selected and the East Texas Food Bank is honored and proud to be included in this list of gift recipients.

“We are quickly convening our board of directors, leadership team and other stakeholders to ensure that the philanthropy entrusted to us will help more East Texans access more nutritious food and support services equitably and efficiently- now, during the crisis of COVID-19, and for the long term,” said East Texas Food Bank Chief Executive Officer Dennis Cullinane.

ETFB plans to share details about the gift and how it will be invested across ETFB’s 26 county service area in early 2021.

“This generous investment in the East Texas Food Bank is a vote of confidence in the work we are all doing together to end hunger in East Texas,” Cullinane said. “Every partner agency, volunteer, donor, staff member, board member and stakeholder should feel proud to receive this recognition and investment.”

Cullinane added that the investment will serve to advance our strategic plan and our capacity to achieve the goal of ending hunger in East Texas by enabling us to invest in initiatives and tactics that up until now lacked resources.

“The hunger crisis is bigger than what any one philanthropist can solve,” Cullinane added. Ending hunger and its devastating effects in East Texas is within our reach when we all come together to fight hunger. With this investment and continued generosity of all East Texans, we can end hunger together.”

The announcement comes as East Texas is battling an unprecedented hunger crisis. Texas has the 7th highest food insecurity rate in the nation. Locally, one in five East Texans, including one in three children, is facing hunger. That’s 256,410 East Texans, including 96,350 children and households of color experience disproportionately higher rates of hunger.

“The East Texas Food Bank values transparency and after a thorough review, analysis and strategic planning, we will share our plans for this investment and the impact it will have on the people we serve,” Cullinane added.

“I felt like I needed something to get me along for now.”

Paul_blog

We spoke with Paul on a visit to an East Texas Food Bank partner pantry in November. Now in retirement, Paul said he usually visits the pantry once a month. However with the holidays coming up, he needed a bit extra to get by.

“My daughter and fiancé would normally be with me for Thanksgiving,” he said. “But not this year with the pandemic. We are all staying separated just in case.”

While Paul has not had any immediate members of his family affected by COVID-19, he did say that his daughter’s mother passed away from COVID-19 complications earlier this year.

“She was sickly already and by her immune system being down I think it took a toll on her,” he said. “It was tough to see. I was holding her hand while she was virtually dying.”

Paul said the food pantry serves a good purpose in the community and everything he receives comes in handy.

“I like the meats and the sweets,” he said laughing. “I have a bad sweet tooth!”

Paul wanted to say thank you to everyone that provides the food to those in need like him.

“You are doing a very good service to the community,” he said. “Without this, I don’t know what I would do. It’s tough out here.”

You can help us serve more families like Paul’s my donating, volunteering, educating others on our work and advocating for our programs.

“This has been tough. But this food is really a blessing.”

Gayle_Ruby

We met Gayle and her dog Ruby recently at one of our drive-thru produce distributions. Gayle said she has been coming for several months to pick up items for herself and her husband.

“We are both on social security,” Gayle said. “He has liver cancer and neither of us can work anymore. That’s why we need the help.”

Gayle told us that because of the pandemic, she and her husband have to stay home more now.

“We go to the doctor’s office, grocery store, pick up prescriptions,” she said. “That’s about it.”

Gayle said of her favorite items to receive is milk. She also added that she’s found several ways to use the apples she got recently.

“I’ve dried them. I’ve made cinnamon apples,” she said. “Tonight, I’m making applesauce with them.”

Gayle wanted to say thank you to everyone that makes the food distributions possible.

“From the bottom of two hearts, we thank you,” she said. “It’s been tough with his illness and not being able to work. This food is really a blessing. When this is all over, I want to volunteer to give back.”

Families like Gayle’s need our help in providing meals, especially during the holidays. Give now to the East Texas Food Bank and help provide more meals for our neighbors who are depending on us now.

Board of Directors Spotlight: Lisa Williams

Lisa Williams is the President of Black Nurses Rock in Tyler. She is new the East Texas Food Bank Board of Directors and joined this summer.

Lisa recently graduated from Leadership Tyler and did a tour of ETFB in her class. She told us she was amazed at the operations and learned so much about how ETFB works to make sure every East Texan has access to the nutritious food and services they need. Lisa said, “I’m just a proud member of the East Texas Food Bank Board and I love it!”

Outside of her community work, Lisa loves to travel and read leadership and motivational books. Her favorite movie is Rocky because “he never gave up and that’s important!”